Biodiversity and climate change
Biodiversity matters. It is important, not just for its own sake but because it underpins the vital benefits we get from the natural environment such as pollination of crops, because it contributes to our economy, our health and wellbeing, and enriches our lives.
Human activity is contributing to climate change which is causing the diversity of life on earth to be lost at an accelerated rate. Globally, biodiversity is in decline, with 10-30% of animals threatened with extinction and approximately 10% of all species projected to be at increasing risk of extinction for every 1°c rise in global mean temperature. Climate change strengthens the need to enhance our efforts to reduce the loss of biodiversity by sustainably managing our land, water and marine resources. All countries need to be part of the solution.
Latest news
UK government support for REDD+
Defra has funded research providing operational guidance helping countries to preserve biodiversity in forests under the international REDD+ scheme, reducing deforestation and degradation and promoting conservation of forest environments.
Climate Change Risk Assessment
The Adapting to Climate Change (ACC) Programme in Defra has commissioned the first Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) for the UK as required by the Climate Change Act 2008. Reporting by the end of January 2012, the CCRA will examine what might happen in the UK as a result of climate change. ‘Biodiversity and ecosystem services’ is one of eleven sectors being examined.
Adaptation Reporting Power
It is essential organisations responsible for vital services and infrastructure are making the necessary plans to prepare for the risks from a changing climate. The Climate Change Act 2008 introduced a new power for the Secretary of State to direct “reporting authorities” (companies with functions of a public nature such as water and energy utilities) to prepare reports on how they are assessing and acting on the risks and opportunities from a changing climate. 91 organisations are required to submit reports and others have been invited or have volunteered to report.
Embedding Climate Change Adaptation Principles Project
This project sets out principles to guide organisations to adapt to climate change. It is aimed at people responsible for planning and delivering actions across all sectors identified in the England Biodiversity Strategy including agriculture, water and wetlands, woodland and forestry, towns, cities and development and coasts and seas. This project, reporting in early 2011, will determine whether further measures and support are required to make sure objectives and delivery plans take on board the climate change adaptation principles.
Key facts
- Our natural environment provides essential ecosystem services such as clean air, water, food, recreation and storing carbon so it is essential we improve our environment’s resilience to future change.
- Conserving our protected areas and reducing negative impacts of climate change are some of the actions we can all take to increase resilience.
- In May 2007 Defra published the Climate Change Adaptation Principles, setting out guiding principles for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity. See also the England Biodiversity Strategy, Working with the grain of nature. Workstream Deliverables for 2010.
- In 2007 the MONARCH report, Conserving Biodiversity – The UK Approach looked at 32 declining or rare species currently part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan to see how climate change might impact on them.
- Defra’s Climate Change Plan contains detailed actions we are taking, and have already taken, to address the risks to Defra’s activity from climate change (page 43 contains information on Biodiversity). The discussion document sets out issues relating to the Natural Environment.